The War between Paleos and Neos

The most striking distinction between Paleo-and Neoconservatives* is sociological.† The Paleos usually come from conservative families, some upper-class with old money, others Texas-rich, or middle-class. Many small businessmen, professionals, craftsmen, farmers, storekeepers, and skilled workers are also Paleos. A sizable number belong to fundamentalist evangelical groups. And although the clergy in major denominations seldom is conservative, many believers fervently are.

The Neoconservatives are horses of a different color. They usually come from low-income liberal or leftist families. As students they became more radical than their parents and not infrequently extreme Marxists. They became teachers, journalists, or intellectuals. Some of the best-known Neos are Jewish,** but by no means all. Pat Moynihan was a Neoconservative before he became a liberal senator; James Q. Wilson, George Gilder, Michael Novak, Thomas Sowell, Peter Berger, Charles Murray—to name a few—are well-known non-Jewish Neoconservatives.

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Ernest van den Haag

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The most striking distinction between Paleo-and Neoconservatives* is sociological.† The Paleos usually come from conservative families, some upper-class with old money, others Texas-rich, or middle-class. Many small businessmen, professionals, craftsmen, farmers, storekeepers, and skilled workers are also Paleos. A sizable number belong to fundamentalist evangelical groups. And although the clergy in major denominations seldom is conservative, many believers fervently are.

The Neoconservatives are horses of a different color. They usually come from low-income liberal or leftist families. As students they became more radical than their parents and not infrequently extreme Marxists. They became teachers, journalists, or intellectuals. Some of the best-known Neos are Jewish,** but by no means all. Pat Moynihan was a Neoconservative before he became a liberal senator; James Q. Wilson, George Gilder, Michael Novak, Thomas Sowell, Peter Berger, Charles Murray—to name a few—are well-known non-Jewish Neoconservatives.